Thermoplastic polymer composition

ABSTRACT

There is disclosed thermoplastic polymeric compositions of polycarbonates, polyamides, polyacetals, and poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxides) and which contain in a minor amount sufficient to make the thermoplastic polymeric material easily releasable from a processing mold of fatty acid ester.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to a thermoplastic polymer composition which is easily releasable from processing molds especially during injection molding. The composition comprises thermoplastic high molecular weight polymer material and fatty acid esters as mold release agents.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Thermoplastic polymer compositions containing polycarbonate as a main component are known. In this connection, there are also known additives which decrease adhesion of thermoplastic polymers to metals. For such purposes, additives such as products of complete or partial esterification of monocarboxylic or dicarboxylic aliphatic acids having long carbon chain with monohydric or polyhydric alcohols or phenols are employed.

According to European Patent No. 122,759 polyesters having g a degree of polymerization from 3 to 12 are used as additives that decrease adhesion of polycarbonates to processing mold. Those polyesters are obtained from aliphatic dicarboxylic acids containing from 2 to 6 carbon atoms and pentaerythritol, partially esterified by aliphatic monocarboxylic acids containing 2 to 6 carbon atoms.

According to Japanese Patent Application No. 86/261349, esters of aliphatic monocarboxylic acids containing from 12 to 30 carbon atoms reacted with C≦0 aliphatic alcohols or polyols are used as additives to decrease the adhesion of the polymer compositions to the processing mold.

Additives of this type are introduced by physical modification, applying 0.01 to 2.0 parts by weight of the additive per 100 parts by weight of high molecular weight of thermoplastic polymer, especially polycarbonate, which are mixed with dissolved, molten, or powdered polymer.

Processing molds, especially injections molds, are sometimes blocked during the processing of known thermoplastic polymer compositions. This makes the operation troublesome.

It is an aim of this invention to provide thermoplastic polymer compositions which exhibit decreased adhesion to metals and thus easily released from processing molds, thus avoiding blocking of the processing apparatus or devices.

BRIEF STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

It has now been found that thermoplastic polymer compositions, containing high molecular weight thermoplastic polymer and fatty acid esters which up to now have not been used for this purpose, and optionally stabilizers, flame retardants, fillers, and dyes, achieve this aim.

These compositions are characterized by the fact that they comprise per 100 parts by weight of high molecular weight thermoplastic polymer, especially such as polycarbonate, polyamide, and polyacetal or blends thereof with other polymers, and 0.05-5.0 parts by weight of fatty acid esters of general formulae: ##STR1##

In general formula 1, R is selected from alkyl, alkenyl or alkadienyl groups containing 15-23 carbon atoms; A is a radical of general formula 4: ##STR2## and m has a value in the range of from about 0.05 to 4.0. In general formula 1, has a value in the range of from about 1 to about 4, X and Y are either the same or different and denote --OH; a radical of the general formula RCOO--, wherein R is as above defined; or a radical of general formula --OOC--E--COOH, wherein E is a radical selected from (CH₂)₂, --CH═CH--or a radical of formula ##STR3##

In general formula 1, X is a radical having general formula ##STR4## wherein Z is (CH₂)₆ or a radical of formula ##STR5## or X is a radical of general formula ##STR6## wherein E is as above defined and A is a group of general formula 4, wherein E is as above defined, and A is a group of general formula 4, wherein A and m are as above defined, and X is --OH. When X in general formula 1 is a group of general formula 12 or 16, then Y is --OH or a covalent bond. In general formula 2, R and A are as above defined, a has a value from about 1.4 to about 1.96 and b has a value from about 0.04 to about 0.6, and a+b equals 2.

In general formula 3, R is as above defined, X is --OH or a radical of general formula RCOO--, wherein R is as above defined, or a radical of general formula HOOC--E--COO--, wherein E is as above defined. ##STR7## wherein Q is a hydrogen atom or CH₃, and p has a value from about 0.1 to about 4.0, or a radical of general formula ##STR8## wherein p is as above defined.

In formula 3, r equals 2 if A is a radical of general formula 17, or r equals 4 if A is a radical of general formula 18.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Fatty acid esters coming within the above formulae and which may be employed in the compositions of this invention are prepared by known processes and preferably by the addition of saturated and unsaturated fatty acids such as, for example, palmitic acid, stearic acid, erucic acid, oleic acid and linolenic acid, or technical grade fatty acids mixtures to (a) low molecular weight or medium molecular weight epoxy resins based on epichlorohydrin and 2,2-bis(4-hydroxyphenyl) propane (Bisphenol A, BPA), bis(4-hydroxyphenyl)methane, ethylene glycol, diethylene glycol, triethylene glycol, 1,4-butanediol, 1,6-hexanediol, phthalic anhydride, hexahydrophthalic anhydride, and (b) epoxy novolac resins based on the condensation products used in thermoplastic compositions of the present invention, of phenol, o-cresol or Bisphenol A with formaldehyde. All of these products of addition of fatty acids to epoxy resins contain hydroxyl groups.

The above-described addition products are then converted into the esters by condensation of fatty acids with the hydroxyl groups of the addition products and such esters thus obtained are then used in thermoplastic polymer compositions of the present invention.

According to the present invention, addition products of fatty acids with epoxy resins and epoxy novolac resins, obtained by known processes at a ratio of fatty acids to epoxy groups which is lower than stoichiometric amounts are also used in molding compositions. These products have ester groups, hydroxyl groups, and unreacted epoxy groups.

Furthermore, the compositions described in this invention contain derivatives of addition products of fatty acids with epoxy resins and epoxy novolacs, obtained by known processes. In order to obtain such derivatives, reactions with the hydroxyl groups are accomplished in accordance with know processes.

Particularly suitable are addition products of cyclic anhydrides of dicarboxylic acids, preferably succinic anhydride, maleic anhydride, phthalic anhydride, tetrahydrophthalic anhydride and hexahydrophthalic anhydride with hydroxyl groups present in addition products of the fatty acids with epoxy resins and epoxy novolacs.

Additionally, compositions in accordance with the present invention include reaction products of aliphatic, cycloaliphatic and aromatic diisocyanates, preferably hexamethylene diisocyanate, isophorone diisocyanate, 4,4-diphenylmethane diisocyanate, as well as 2,4- and 2,6-toluene diisocyanate, and mixtures of the last two diisocyanates, with hydroxyl groups of the addition products of the fatty acids with epoxy resins.

The last group of compounds according to the present invention comprises addition products of the above-mentioned epoxy resins to carboxyl groups resulting from the above-described addition of cyclic anhydrides of dicarboxylic acids to reaction products of fatty acids and epoxy resins.

Examples of fatty acid esters used in compositions according to the invention are listed in Table 1.

                                      TABLE 1                                      __________________________________________________________________________     EXAMPLES OF FATTY ACIDS ESTERS                                                 __________________________________________________________________________     General   Fatty Acid Ester                                                     Example                                                                             Formula                                                                             R     A                  X                                           1    2    3     4                  5                                           __________________________________________________________________________     I    1    C H   Formula 4; A.sub.2 = Formula 6                                                                    OH                                                    17 35 X = OH; m = 0.15                                               II   1    C H (50%)                                                                            Formula 4; A.sub.2 = Formula 5                                                                    OH                                                    15 33 X = OH; m = 4.0                                                          C H (50%)                                                                      17 35                                                                III  1    C H   Formula 4; A.sub.2 = Formula 7                                                                    OH                                                    17 33 X = OH; m = 2.0                                                IV   1    C H   Formula 4; A.sub.2 = Formula 8                                                                    --OOC--E--COOH                                        17 31 X = OOC--E--COOH; m = 0.08                                                                        E = (--CH.sub.2 --).sub.2                                   E = (--CH.sub.2).sub.2                                         V    1    C H   Formula 4; A.sub.2 = (--CH.sub.2).sub.2                                                           --OOC--E--COOH                                        17 35 X = --OOC--E-- COOH; m = 0.15                                                                     E = --CH═CH--                                           E = --CH═CH--                                              VI   1    C H   Formula 4; A.sub.2 = (--CH.sub.2).sub.4                                                           --OOC--E--COOH                                        17 36 X = --OOC--E--COOH; m = 0.15                                                                      E = Formula 9                                               E = Formula 9                                                  VII  1    C H   Formula 4; A.sub.2 = (--CH.sub.2-).sub.5                                                          --OOC--E--COOH                                        15 33 X = --OOC--E--COOH; m = 0.15                                                                      E = Formula 10                                              E = Formula 10                                                 VIII 1    C H   Formula 4;         --OOC--E--COOH                                        17 35 A.sub.2 = (--CH.sub.2 --).sub.2 --O--(--CH.sub.2-).sub.2                                          E = Formula 11                                              E = Formula 11; m = 0.15                                                       X = --OOC--E--COOH                                             IX   1    C H   Formula 4;         Formula 12;                                           17 35 A.sub.2 = (CH.sub.2)--O--(CH.sub.2 --)--O--(CH.sub.2)                                             Z = (--CH.sub.2 --).sub.6                                   X =  OH; m = 0.15                                              X    1    C H   Formula 4; A.sub.2 = Formula 6                                                                    Formula 12;                                           17 35 X = OH; m = 0.15   Z = Formula 13                              XI   1    C H   Formula 4; A.sub.2 = Formula 6                                                                    Formula 12;                                           17 35 X = OH; m = 0.15   Z = Formula 5                               XII  1    C H   Formula 4; A.sub.2 = Formula 6                                                                    Formula 12;                                           17 35 X = OH; m = 0.15   Z = Formula 14 (65%)                                                           and Formula 15 (35%)                        XIII 1    C H   Formula 4; A.sub.2 = Formula 6                                                                    Formula 16;                                           17 35 X = OH; m = 0.15   A.sub.2 = Formula 6;                                                           m = 0.15; X = OH;                                                              E = Formula 9                               XIV  1    C H   Formula 4; A.sub.2 = Formula 6                                                                    Formula 16;                                           17 35 X = OH; m = 0.15   A.sub.2 = Formula 5                                                            m = 0.08; X = OH;                                                              E = (--CH.sub.2 --).sub.2                   XV   1    C H   Formula 4; A.sub.2 = Formula 6                                                                    Formula 16;                                           17 35 X = OH; m = 0.15   A.sub.2 = Formula 8                                                            m = 4.0; X = OH;                                                               E = --CH═CH--                           XVI  1    C H   Formula 4; A.sub.2 = Formula 6                                                                    Formula 16;                                           17 35 X = OH; m = 0.15   A.sub.2 = Formula 7                                                            X = OH; E = Formula 10                                                         m = 0.15                                    XVII 1    C H   Formula 4; A.sub.2 = Formula 6                                                                    Formula 16; A.sub.2 = (--CH.sub.2                                              --).sub.2                                             17 35 X = OH; m = 0.15   X = OH; E = Formula 11                                                         m = 0.25                                    XVIII                                                                               1    C H   Formula 4; A.sub.2 = Formula 6                                                                    Formula 16; A.sub.2 = (--CH.sub.2                                              --).sub.2                                             17 35 X = OH; m = 0.15   X = OH; E = Formula 9                                                          m = 0.42                                    XIX  1    C H   Formula 4; A.sub.2 = Formula 6                                                                    Formula 16; A.sub.2 = (--CH.sub.2                                              --).sub.2                                             17 35 X = OH; m = 0.15   X = OH; E = Formula 9                                                          m = 0.16                                    XX   1    C H   Formula 4; A.sub.2 = Formula 6                                                                    Formula 16; A.sub.2 = (--CH.sub.2                                              --).sub.2                                             17 35 X = OH; m = 0.15   X = OH; E = Formula 9                                                          m = 0.43                                    XXI  1    C H   Formula 4;         Formula 16;                                           17 35 A.sub.2 = Formula 6                                                                               X = OH; E = Formula 9;                                      X = OH; m = 0.15   m = 0.71                                                                       A.sub.2 = (--CH.sub.2 --).sub.2                                                --O--(--CH.sub.2).sub.2 --O--(--CH.sub.                                        2).sub.2                                    XXII 1    C H   Formula 4;         C H COO--                                             17 35 A.sub.2 = Formula 6                                                                               17 35                                                       X = OH; m = 0.15                                               XXIII                                                                               1    C H   Formula 4;         --                                                    17 35 A.sub.2 = Formula 6                                                            X = OH; m = 0.15                                               XXIV 1    C H   Formula 4;         --                                                    15 33 A.sub.2 = Formula 6                                                            X = OH; m = 0.15                                               XXV  1    C H   Formula 4;         --                                                    15 33 A.sub.2 = Formula 6 X = OH;                                                    m = 0.15                                                       XXVI 1    C H   --                 C H COO--                                             17 35                    17 35                                       XXVII                                                                               1    C H   --                 OH                                                    17 35                                                                XXVIII                                                                              3    C H   --                 --OOC--E--COOH;                                       17 35                    E = --CH═CH                             XXIX 3    C H   --                 OH                                                    17 35                                                                __________________________________________________________________________                                   Fatty Acid Ester                                                          Example                                                                             Y          n a  b A                                                       p                              r                                               1    6          7 8  9 10    11                                                                               12                     __________________________________________________________________________                              I    OH         1 -- --                                                                               --    --                                                                               --                                              II   OH         1 -- --                                                                               --    --                                                                               --                                              III  OH         1 -- --                                                                               --    --                                                                               --                                              IV   --OOC--E--COOH                                                                            1 -- --                                                                               --    --                                                                               --                                                   E = (--CH.sub.2 --).sub.2                                                 V    --OOC--E--COOH                                                                            1 -- --                                                                               --    --                                                                               --                                                   E = --CH═CH--                                                         VI   --OOC--E--COOH                                                                            1 -- --                                                                               --    --                                                                               --                                                   E = Formula 9                                                             VII  OH         1 -- --                                                                               --    --                                                                               --                                              VIII OH         1 -- --                                                                               --    --                                                                               --                                              IX   OH         2 -- --                                                                               --    --                                                                               --                                              X    covalent   3 -- --                                                                               --    --                                                                               --                                                   bond                                                                           (50%);                                                                         OH (50%)                                                                  XI   covalent   4 -- --                                                                               --    --                                                                               --                                                   bond                                                                           (60%);                                                                         OH (40%)                                                                  XII  OH         2 -- --                                                                               --    --                                                                               --                                              XIII OH         2 -- --                                                                               --    --                                                                               --                                              XIV  OH         2 -- --                                                                               --    --                                                                               --                                              XV   OH         2 -- --                                                                               --    --                                                                               --                                              XVI  OH         2 -- --                                                                               --    --                                                                               --                                              XVII covalent   4 -- --                                                                               --    --                                                                               --                                                   bond                                                                           (60%);                                                                         OH (40%)                                                                  XVIII                                                                               covalent   3 -- --                                                                               --    --                                                                               --                                                   bond                                                                           (50%);                                                                         OH (50%)                                                                  XIX  OH         2 -- --                                                                               --    --                                                                               --                                              XX   OH         2 -- --                                                                               --    --                                                                               --                                              XXI  OH         2 -- --                                                                               --    --                                                                               --                                              XXII C H COO--  --                                                                               -- --                                                                               --    --                                                                               --                                                   17 35                                                                     XXIII                                                                               --         --                                                                               0.2                                                                               1.8                                                                              --    --                                                                               --                                              XXIV            --                                                                                1.96                                                                             0.4                                                                              --    --                                                                               --                                              XXV             --                                                                               1.4                                                                               0.6                                                                              --    --                                                                               --                                              XXVI OH         --                                                                               -- --                                                                               Formula                                                                              4.0                                                                              2                                                                      Q = H                                                   XXVII                                                                               OH         --                                                                               -- --                                                                               Formula                                                                              3.2                                                                              2                                                                      Q = CH.sub.3                                            XXVIII                                                                              --         --                                                                               -- --                                                                               Formula                                                                              3.2                                                                              2                                                                      O = CH.sub.3                                            XXIX --         --                                                                               -- --                                                                               Formula                                                                              0.1                                                                              4                      __________________________________________________________________________

Examples of thermoplastic polymer compositions in accordance with the invention are given in Table 2.

                                      TABLE 2                                      __________________________________________________________________________     EXAMPLES OF POLYMER COMPOSITIONS                                                                                              Composition properties                                                                   Mouldings             Number of Components, Weight Parts             Butt      Released                               Fatty Acid                    joint     from                                   Ester                         strength                                                                            Butt Injection                              Example                       (conical                                                                            joint                                                                               Mould                                  Number                        test strength                                                                            without                     Thermoplastic                                                                             (cf.                          bars)                                                                               GOST Damage                Example                                                                              Polymer    Table 1)                                                                             Other Additives                                                                         Composition preparation                                                                       mPa  mPa  %                     1     2          3     4        5              6    7    8                     __________________________________________________________________________     XXX   Bisphenel A                                                                               I; 0.5                                                                               Ultranox Introduction of ester (during                                                                 28   62   99                          polycarbonate    626/1 0.1                                                                               production of polycarbonate                          (BPA polycarbonate)       as dissolved in CH.sub.2 CL.sub.2)                   99.5                      Evaporation of the solvent                     XXXI  BPA polycarbonate                                                                         II; 0.3                                                                              Ultranox 626;                                                                           Mixing of powdered poly-                                                                      29   66   99                          99.7             0.2 TiO (rutile)                                                                        carbonate with powdered                                               2        ester                                          XXXII BPA polycarbonate                                                                         III; 0.2                                                                             Ultranox 626 0.1                                                                        Mixing of powdered poly-                                                                      31   67   100                         99.8                      carbonate with powdered ester                  XXXIII                                                                               BPA polycarbonate                                                                         IV; 1.0                                                                              Ultranox 626 0.1                                                                        Mixing of powdered                                                                            24   58   98                          79.0 Copolymer            thermoplastics with                                  (Acrylnitrile-            powdered ester                                       Butadiene-Styrene)                                                             20.0                                                                     XXXIV BPA polycarobnate                                                                         V; 0.5                                                                               Ultranox 626 0.3                                                                        Dissolution of ester in                                                                       29etone;                                                                            60   99                          99.95            Glass fibre 20.0                                                                        Mixing with powdered poly-                                                     carbonate; Drying                              XXXV  BPA polycarbonate                                                                         VI; 0.4                                                                              Ultranox 626 0.1                                                                        Mixing of powdered poly-                                                                      26   60   100                         99.6             Tinuvin 326                                                                             carbonate with powdered                                               2 0.2    ester                                          XXXVI BPA polycarbonate                                                                         VII; 0.6                                                                             Ultranox 626 0.1                                                                        Dissolution of ester in                                                                       27lene;                                                                             61   100                         99.4                      Mixing with powdered poly-                                                     carbonate; Drying                              XXXVII                                                                               BPA polycarbonate                                                                         VIII; 0.1                                                                            Ultranox 626 0.2                                                                        Mixing of molten                                                                              28   62   100                         99.9             Carbon black 0.2                                                                        ester with molten poly-                                                        carbonate during granulation                                                   process                                        XXXVIII                                                                              BPA polycarbonate                                                                         IX; 1.1                                                                              Ultranox 626 0.2                                                                        Introduction of ester (during                                                                 29   56   100                         98.9             Glass fibre 40.0                                                                        production of polycarobnate as                                                 dissovled in CH.sub.2 Cl.sub.2).                                               Evaporation of solvent                         XXXIX BPA polycarbonate                                                                         X; 5.0                                                                               Ultranox 626                                                                            Mixing of granular                                                                            28   62   99                          95.0             0.3      polycarbonate with granular                                                    20% ester masterbatch in poly-                                                 ester                                          XL    BPA polycarbonate                                                                         XI; 1.8                                                                              Ultranox 626                                                                            Mixing of powdered poly-                                                                      27   58   100                         98.2             0.1 Tinuvin P                                                                           carbonate with powdered ester                                         0.2 0.3                                                 XLI   BPA polycarbonate                                                                         XII; 1.6                                                                             Ultranox 626            28   56   99                          98.4             0.2                                                     XLII  BPA polycarbonate                                                                         XII; 0.7                                                                             Ultranox 626                                                                            Mixing of powdered thermo-                                                                    23   52   99                          79.3 Poly(ethylene                                                                              0.1      plastics with powdered                               terephthalate)            ester                                                20.0                                                                     XLIII BPA polycarbonate                                                                         XIV; 1.5                                                                             Ultranox 626 0.2                                                                        Dissolution of ester in                                                                       29etone,                                                                            60   100                         98.5             Glass fibre 20.0                                                                        Mixing with powdered                                                  Carbon black 0.3                                                                        polycarbonate; Drying                          XLIV  BPA polycarbonate                                                                         XV; 0.8                                                                              Ultranox 626                                                                            Dissolution of ester in                                                                       28etone,                                                                            62   100                         99.2             0.3      Mixing with powdered                                                           polycarbonate; Drying                          XLV   BPA polycarbonate                                                                         XXI; 0.3                                                                             Ultranox 626                                                                            Dissolution of ester in                                                                       24etone,                                                                            55   98                          79.7 Poly(butylene                                                                              0.3      Mixing with powdered                                 terephthalate)            thermoplastics; Drying                               20.0                                                                     XLVI  BPA polycarbonate                                                                         XXII; 0.1                                                                            Ultranox 626 0.3                                                                        Mixing of granular                                                                            28   62   100                         99.9             Glas fibre 30.0                                                                         polycarbonate with granular                                           TiO.sub.2 0.3                                                                           10% ester masterbatch in poly-                                                 ester                                          XLVII BPA polycarbonate                                                                         XVIII;                                                                               Ultranox 626 0.3                                                                        Mixing of granular                                                                            28   58   99                          99.1       0.9            polycarbonate with granular                                                    20% ester masterbatch in poly-                                                 carbonate                                      XLVIII                                                                               BPA polycarbonate                                                                         XIX; 1.7                                                                             Ultranox 626 0.2                                                                        Mixing of powdered poly-                                                                      27   52   99                          98.3             Tituvin 234 0.3                                                                         carbonate with powdered                                                        ester                                          XLIX  BPA polycarbonate                                                                         XX; 0.3                                                                              Ultranox 626 0.1                                                                        Dissolution of ester in                                                                       29etone,                                                                            59   100                         99.7                      Mixing with powdered poly-                                                     carbonate; Drying                              L     BPA polycarbonate                                                                         XXI; 1.4                                                                             Ultranox 626 0.3                                                                        Mixing of Molten                                                                              26   54   100                         98.6             Glass fibre 30.0                                                                        ester with molten poly-                                                        carbonate during granulation                                                   process.                                       LI    BPA polycarbonate                                                                         XXII; 0.2                                                                            Ultranox 626 0.2                                                                        Mixing of powdered poly-                                                                      28   59   100                         99.8                      carbonate with powdered                                                        ester                                          LII   BPA polycarbonate                                                                         XXIII;                                                                               Ultranox 626 0.1                                                                        Mixing of granular                                                                            26   58   100                         99.7       0.3            polycarbonate with granular                                                    10% ester masterbatch in poly-                                                 carbonate                                      LIII  Polyamide 6 99.5                                                                          XXIX; 0.5                                                                            Glass fibre 25.0                                                                        Mixing of Molten         74                                                    ester with molten poly-                                                        amide during granulation                                                       process                                        LIV   Polyamide 6 99.7                                                                          XXV; 0.3                                                                             --       Mixing of granular       76                                                    polyamide with granular                                                        10% ester masterbatch in poly-                                                 amide                                          LV    BPA polycarbonate                                                                         XXVI; 0.1                                                                            Ultranox 626 0.1                                                                        Mixing of granular                                                                            25   60   99                          99.9             Tinuvin P 0.3                                                                           polycarbonate with granular                                                    ester masterbatch in poly-                                                     carbonate                                      LVI   BPA polycarbonate                                                                         XXVII;                                                                               Ultranox 626 0.3                                                                        Mixing of powdered poly-                                                                      28   53   100                         99.3       0.2            carbonate with powdered                                                        ester                                          LVII  Polyoxymethylene                                                                          XXVIII;                                                                              Irganox 259 0.6                                                                         Mixing of powdered polyoxy-                                     0.5   Dicyandiamide                                                                           methylene with powdered                                               0.4      ester                                          LVIII BPA polycarbonate                                                                         XXIX; 1.0                                                                            Ultranox 626 0.3                                                                        Dissolution of ester in                                                                                 100 one,                    99.9                      mixing with powdered                                                           polycarbonate; Drying                          LIX   BPA polycarbonate                                                                         --    Ultranox 626 0.3                                                                        --             46   88   80                          100.0                                                                    LX    BPA polycarbonate                                                                         --    Ultranox 626 0.3                                                                        --             48   89   76                          100.0                                                                    LXI   Poyamide 6 --    Glass fibre 25.0                                                                        --                        0                    LXII  Polyamide 6                                                                               --    --       --                        0                    LXIII Polyoxymethylene                                                                          --    Irganox 259 0.6                                                                         --                                                   100.0            Dicyandiamide                                                                  0.4                                                     __________________________________________________________________________      1/ Manufacturer: Borg Warner                                                   2/ Manufacturer: CIBA GEIGY                                                    3/ Polycarbonate  injection moulding cf. FIG. 1                                Polyamide  injection moulding cf. FIG. 2                                       Polyoxymethylene  injection moulding cf. FIG. 2                          

Thermoplastic polymer compositions according to the invention are prepared by adding from about 0.05 to 5.0 parts by weight to 100 parts by weight of dissolved, powdered, or granular high molecular weight thermoplastic polymer, preferably polycarbonate, polyamide, polyacetal, or poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) and mixing the constituents until a substantial homogeneous mixture is obtained. If desired, other components such as stabilizers, flame retardants, powdered and fibrous fillers, preferably staple glass fiber, and colorants and the like may be added to the mixture. The above-mentioned additives--that is, fatty acid esters of general formula 1, 2, or 3 are added as melts, powders, solutions, or as a master batch in the corresponding thermoplastic polymer.

Thermoplastic polymer compositions thus obtained are processed preferably by injection molding, extrusion molding, compression molding, and other processes used in processing of thermoplastics. In the course of tests, neither complete nor even partial sticking to processing molds or extruder dies nor blocking of the processing molds was observed.

Moreover, fatty acid esters of general formulae 1, 2, and 3 do not exert negative effects on the properties of moldings obtained from the thermoplastic polymer compositions in accordance with the present invention.

Various modifications of the present invention may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is to be understood, therefore, that the invention is not to be limited to the described embodiments, except as defined in the appended claims. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A thermoplastic polymeric composition comprising (a) a major amount of a high molecular weight polymeric material selected from the group consisting of thermoplastic polycarbonates, polyamides, polyacetals, and poly(2,6-dimethyl-1,4-phenylene oxide) poly(ethylene terephthalate) and blends thereof with each other and with other polymers; and (b) minor amount sufficient to make said high molecular weight polymeric material easily releasable from a processing mold of fatty acid ester selected from the group consisting of fatty acid esters having the general formula: ##STR9## in which R is a hydrocarbon radical selected from the group consisting of alkyl, alkenyl, and alkadienyl radicals containing from 15 to 25 carbon atoms, A is a radial having the general formula: ##STR10## wherein A₂ --, is a radical selected from the group consisting of a radical having the formulae: ##STR11## where m has a value of 0.05 to 4.0; X may be the same or different radicals selected from the group of radicals consisting of --OH, ROO--, and wherein R is as defined above or is OOC--E--COOH, wherein E is a radical selected from the group consisting of a radical having the formulae: ##STR12## wherein Z is a radical selected from the group consisting of radicals having the formulae: ##STR13## wherein E is as defined above and A is a radical selected from the group of radicals having the formula: ##STR14## wherein A₂ is as described above and m has a value of 0.05 to 4.0; X is --OHprovided that when the fatty acid ester has the formula (3), the radical (4) is selected from the group consisting of radicals having the formulae: ##STR15## wherein R is as defined above or has the general formula HOOC--E--COO--, wherein E is as defined above, Q is selected from hydrogen and CH₃ --, P has a value from 0.1 to 4.0, R equals 2 when A is a radical of formula (17) and r equals 4 when A is a radical of formula (18).
 2. A thermoplastic polymeric composition according to claim 1, wherein the fatty acid ester is present in parts by weight, based on 100 parts by weight of high molecular weight polymeric material, in a range of from about 0.05 to about 5.0 parts.
 3. A thermoplastic polymeric composition according to claim 1, including stabilizers, flame retardants, filters, and dyes. 